The Outer Worlds 2: XBox Series X Review

Developed by Obsidian Entertainment
Published by XBox Games Studios
Platform: XBox Series X

The world of the RPG has become more complicated through the years.

A simple premise of building up a character on their arc has now progressed into something which has a strong and immersive story wrapped around it as it plays out. That's something which The Outer Worlds 2 leans heavily into - and is all the better for it.

This time around, as the Arcadia Star System struggles to deal with rifts after an invasion from a megacorporation, it's up to you as an Earth Detectorate Agent to work out what's going on and try and put a stop to it.

But it's not quite that simple and choosing which faction you want to help (of three available) means the game takes different routes. It's here that The Outer Worlds 2 begins to excel - there feels like definite pathways for the character you choose and develop, something which some other RPGs really seem to hold back on.

As with the first game, companions will help you along the way - and a tightly written story here and some solid voice work means they feel more essential, rather than a hindrance to proceedings. What's also impressive is that, much like real life, if you take a wrong turn with your companion, they'll leave you behind. It's a welcome feeling of consequence which adds to the game and its elements.

With smart satirical edges, The Outer Worlds 2 is an intelligent game that rewards its players and the effort they put in. Megacorporations come in for a skewing, one that's welcome and needed, but clever writing makes the message feel weighty rather than trite.

A better outing than the first, The Outer Worlds 2 is the kind of RPG that there should be more of - its intelligence and execution make it worthy of time and a welcome addition to the pantheon of sci-fi games that benefit from smart development.